Heat pump?

[kgc07]

We just moved and we are now all electric with a heat pump. We are used to heating with gas and electric AC in the summer. I got our first electric bill yesterday. I'm wondering what our summer bills will look like. Is it usually cheaper in the summer and more expensive in the winter? I'm trying to make a budget and would like to have some idea as what to budget each month for our electric bill!

 

[clutter]

Depends on where you live and how you set your temperatures. However, make sure you change your filter monthly with a heat pump!

 

[kgc07]

Depends on where you live and how you set your temperatures. However, make sure you change your filter monthly with a heat pump!

We live in Missouri....cold winters, hot summers and everything in between! Winter thermostat is set at 68 and summer will probably be 72.

 

[wiigirl]

Depends on where you live and how you set your temperatures. However, make sure you change your filter monthly with a heat pump!

Good advice...and have it checked every few years.

 

[Claire&TheBoys]

We live in Northwest Florida and have a heat pump. We keep the thermostat set around 76 in the summer and 70-72 in the winter. Our summer bills top out around $250 and in a mild winter it's around $200 - more if we have a long cold (for us) stretch.

Our unit is fairly old, though, so not as efficient as a newer model.

 

[North of Mouse]

We just moved and we are now all electric with a heat pump. We are used to heating with gas and electric AC in the summer. I got our first electric bill yesterday. I'm wondering what our summer bills will look like. Is it usually cheaper in the summer and more expensive in the winter? I'm trying to make a budget and would like to have some idea as what to budget each month for our electric bill!

Our highest bills are Jan., Feb., Mar., July, Aug. Sept, and depending on weather variables can change. We set our temps. at 68* winter 76* summer. For every couple degrees, it makes a big difference in electric bills.

Also, about the people that recommended changing the filters monthly. Our Heat/Acc guy recommended changing them 3-4 times a year. They are more efficient when they have had time to collect a little dust on them, as this helps collect even more dust (if this is making sense to you). If they are completely *clean* all the time, more dust can pass through. (This was also the recommendation in our monthly news booklet from our electric company.

 

[McDisney]

Our highest bills are Jan., Feb., Mar., July, Aug. Sept, and depending on weather variables can change. We set our temps. at 68* winter 76* summer. For every couple degrees, it makes a big difference in electric bills.

Also, about the people that recommended changing the filters monthly. Our Heat/Acc guy recommended changing them 3-4 times a year. They are more efficient when they have had time to collect a little dust on them, as this helps collect even more dust (if this is making sense to you). If they are completely *clean* all the time, more dust can pass through. (This was also the recommendation in our monthly news booklet from our electric company.

Eh, no this would not be recommended as it will cause the fan to work harder and shorten the life of the fan motor. Also if the filter becomes too clogged up in the summer it can decrease the air flow across the evaporator (the A coil) and cause it to freeze up.

 

[North of Mouse]

Eh, no this would not be recommended as it will cause the fan to work harder and shorten the life of the fan motor. Also if the filter becomes too clogged up in the summer it can decrease the air flow across the evaporator (the A coil) and cause it to freeze up.

Sorry, but what I said is the recommendation in our area. Like I said, our service guy here told us this, and in one of the latest electric co. mags. we got it was also recommended.

I'm not talking about letting them get filthy dirty, I'm saying a small amount of buildup. We have had heat pumps for 40 years and we have some experience in this. I DO realize *filthy* filters can cause what you said.

 

[chipdale74]

We have a heat pump (which I hate). Our bills range from $200-450 depending on the weather. If the temp drops below (I think) 25degrees you should use the emergency heat (forgot why they said that). The good thing is I work for an energy company that offers a discount on a specific part of electric bill so I save about $25-50 each bill

 

[North of Mouse]

We have a heat pump (which I hate). Our bills range from $200-450 depending on the weather. If the temp drops below (I think) 25degrees you should use the emergency heat (forgot why they said that). The good thing is I work for an energy company that offers a discount on a specific part of electric bill so I save about $25-50 each bill

Heat pumps are most efficient in the south. You are right about it not being efficient 25* & below, that's why they *shouldn't* even install them anywhere but the south. We live in the upper south now, our heat pump is newer (so more efficient) but still needs help when the temps hit 20* or below.

We're having a very cold (for here) week (low teens & 20's high 30's) and we have to supplement ours.

 

[swilshire]

We have a heat pump (which I hate). Our bills range from $200-450 depending on the weather. If the temp drops below (I think) 25degrees you should use the emergency heat (forgot why they said that). The good thing is I work for an energy company that offers a discount on a specific part of electric bill so I save about $25-50 each bill

When we had a heat pump, the "emergency heat" unit was on a separate breaker that we kept turned off. If it was very cold, the house was a little chilly, but we bundled up and thought about all the money we were saving. It was only turned on if it got so cold that we were concerned about pipes freezing up.

Sheila

 

[manning]

We have a heat pump (which I hate). Our bills range from $200-450 depending on the weather. If the temp drops below (I think) 25degrees you should use the emergency heat (forgot why they said that). The good thing is I work for an energy company that offers a discount on a specific part of electric bill so I save about $25-50 each bill

The colder the air the less heat there is to extract.